To receive a report from the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Chief Education Officer providing additional detail in support of the Capital funding approvals being sought under the strategy for addressing the rising need in school places for the Autistic Spectrum Disorder cohort of pupils within the Borough. (Report No.156)
(Key decision number 4209)
Please note Report No.154 on the Part 1 agenda also refers.
Members are asked to note:
· The attached report is due to be considered by Cabinet on the 20January 2016. Subject to Cabinet approval of the recommendations, Council is being asked to formally approve the addition of funds to the Capital Programme for the various elements of the strategy, detailed within the report.
· Cabinet are due to be provided with further information in support of the strategy and financial approvals under restricted circulation, in accordance with the Council’s Super Part 2 procedure. These details will also need to be provided for Council, under the same procedure.
· The decision made by Cabinet on 20 January 2016 will be reported to Council on the update sheet tabled at the meeting.
(This document contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person – including the authority holding that information) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended).
Minutes:
Councillor Orhan moved and Councillor Stafford seconded a report from the Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services and the Chief Education Officer (No.156) providing additional detail in support of the Capital funding approvals being sought under the strategy for addressing the rising need in school places for the Autistic Spectrum Disorder cohort of pupils within the borough.
NOTED
1. The report had been submitted in conjunction with Report No 154 on the Part 1 agenda (Min.119 refers). The recommendations in the report had been agreed and referred on to Council, at the Cabinet meeting held on 20 January 2016.
2. Council was being asked to approve the addition of funds to the Capital Programme for the elements of the strategy detailed in the report.
3. Further information in support of the strategy and financial approvals was circulated at the meeting under restricted circulation in accordance with the Council’s Super Part 2 procedure.
4. Whilst aware of the need to maintain confidentiality in relation to the commercial terms of the proposed land transactions, concerns were raised by the Opposition Group at the restricted circulation of the additional detail contained within the Super Part 2 report and associated financial implications. This was on the basis the information had only been tabled once the Council had moved into Part 2 of the agenda and at the limited time this had provided for members to consider the additional details provided.
Although recognising the concerns raised by the Opposition Group, the Leader of the Council confirmed that a briefing on the Super Part 2 report had been provided, in advance of the Cabinet meeting, for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and that it would not be possible (given the timing of the decisions required) for consideration of the recommendations to be deferred.
Having received the additional information provided within the Super Part 2 report Council was then asked to consider and confirm the inclusion of the additional costs identified for the scheme within the Capital Programme in accordance with the recommendations made by Cabinet and supporting information in Report No.154 on the Part 1 agenda.
The recommendations were then put to the vote, with the Opposition Group advising that on the basis of the additional information provided within the Super Part 2 report and limited time available to consider it, they would no longer be prepared to confirm any of the recommendations considered under the accompanying Part 1 agenda item (Min.119 refers).
Having been put to the vote the recommendations were agreed with the following result:
For: 36
Against: 14
Abstentions: 2
AGREED having considered the additional supporting information within the Part 2 and Super Part 2 report to confirm, further to the decision in relation to Report No154 on the Part 1 agenda:
(1) The addition of the total acquisition budget for acquisition of the Minchenden site and associated feasibility studies (as detailed within 2.2 of the Part 2 & Super Part 2 report) to the Council’s Capital Programme.
(2) The addition of funds to the Council’s Capital Programme (to the upper limit identified within 2.2(i) of the Part 2 and Super Part 2 report) for the acquisition of land at Minchenden.
(3) The addition of funds to the Council’s Capital Programme (as detailed in section 2.2 (ii) of the Part 2 and Super Part 2 report) for the planning, procurement phases and internal design feasibility work to the Farbey building, Mews building and part of Leigh Hunt Drive car park for the ASD provision at Minchenden.
(4) The addition of funds to the Council’s Capital Programme (as detailed in section 2.2 (v) of the Part 2 and Super Part 2 report) for the detailed feasibility work in relation to the Southgate Circus Library site and associated Council assets.
(Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended)